26 beautiful things for your September!

paul paula blogpaul paula blog

Hurra! Are you ready for another Friday list full of slight Autumn vibes, back to school inspiration, beautiful things for mums and lots of interiors I fell in love with over the last weeks?

Are you?

Get ready!

But before, how was and/or is your summer? I hope you could relax a bit and spend some quality family time. I will soon report from our trip to Madrid and share some places with you, because it is a great place to go as a family.

There are 26 lovely things to discover, to read, to get, to bookmark… enjoy:

back to school wear

Perfect Back To School pieces from Buho this season.

Cooking at the frontlines

 

rocking-chair child

Cool rocking chair* for the little ones.

There is more to running than just training your muscles and improving your stamina.

 

small-paris-kitchen-
Small space, big style!

What causes (all these beautiful) freckles!

 

modern loft
Total opposite to the small Paris space, big and open… and in the countryside.

America’s west coast style in this Sixties house in south London.

 

family house hamburg
Urban family jungle

Is one of the 23 Most Beautifully Designed Modern Coffee Shops near you?

 

self built bunk bed
Cool place!

Taylor Hawkins – Rolling Stone

 

violet dent house
So much to discover in Violet Dent’s house.

Do you remember Steffi Graf?

 

playroom built in
Playroom on top of the stairs.

Important: Sunscreen Safety

 

birthday crown
We have two birthdays coming up in September. And birthday crowns are a MUST*!

Talking about birthdays, have a look at this shop – cute gifts!

 

here comes the sun jumper
sun muslin baby romper
Cute alert! Amazing jumpers, muslin rompers and more… love it!

5 children’s brands to watch.

 

industrial bathroom
industrial loft denmark
Industrial haven.

I love a good train ride. But 72h is long!

 

boho romper child

children kimono
Kimonos and boho rompers. What is not to like? Luks.

On Tour With Eagles of Death Metal. Spin

 

children chair charly cane

A very pretty little chair that fits into every interior. Already a classic*!

On my wishlist: These handcrafted earrings and this dark green beautiful bag.

 

Happy weekend and happy month of September!

*affiliate links

Poetic, retro & eccentric children’s fashion from London

Raspberry Plum
London based children’s fashion label RaspberryPlum showed an exceptional collection this June in Pitti. I teased you a bit in my recap and, as promised, will show you more today. And I hope you will be as delighted as I am!

Aleksandra and her love for the 1930’s to 1950’s can be seen throughout the collection. Showing pieces packed with personality and the best prints. I am particularly loving the panda prints. It is all rather unique, playful, yet luxurious, and colourful.

Happy stripes, a bit of lace, lots of tulle, and the coolest accessories. I am very fond of great accessories and was happy to see some cool berets, summer hats, and hair pieces. They just make an outfit and add a whole lot of fun.

And in case you wonder when I say tulle, lace and luxury, everything is easy to look after. Because a great deal of attention has been placed on detail, quality, and finish. Further, the collection is ethically manufactured in Serbia, Aleksandra’s birth country. She left for London when she was 12 but always likes to include her roots in her work. To support and to show her love.

Let us have a look at the collection for Spring/ Summer 2023:

Raspberry Plum

Raspberry Plum

Raspberry Plum

Raspberry Plum

Raspberry Plum

Raspberry Plum

Raspberry Plum

So, what do you think? Have you spotted some favourites already?

I am between the panda swimsuit and the patch dress. Still time to decide until next summer…

More children’s fashion:

PS: Loving the lookbook!

My ‘Coup de Cœurs’ from Pitti Bimbo 95

 Pitti Bimbo 95
Yay! I was back! Back in Florence and back at Pitti Bimbo. If you are hesitating or wondering if you should go in January, do it. It is great to catch up, to see the new collections in real, to enjoy a bit of Italian flair, because that really is the little secret ingredient.

So, Pitti Bimbo number 95 it was, with the theme of ‘Pitti Island’ – a physical and spiritual point. A lab that experiments, multiplies, and diversifies. An island of discoveries, explorations, and visions. My kind of island!
A place for meeting and being together before everyone sets out on their own journey. And that is exactly how I felt during my time in Florence. I am ready again to take away inspiration, colours, fabrics, designs, and ideas… for my own journey.

Yes, it was small. Smaller than usual. But selected and very fine. And it allowed time to meet and talk; to walk around and not run; to have a longer lunch and catch up with colleagues. It was lovely!

Top Buyers and key press attended, 211 brands in total, ranging from ceremonial (a section that is booming again), active wear, leisure, luxury, and contemporary. A total of 3 thousand visitors, with over 2,100 buyers, of which 40% came from more than 50 different countries.

It is also worth noting the great attention that Pitti Bimbo has received in the press and on social media, with almost 200 registered journalists, influencers, and media operators, and around 15,000 interactions achieved by the trade show social media channels.
Every little thing adds up to something big!

 Pitti Bimbo 95

Now, what were my favourites? I will tell you:

The Apartment section is still my favourite of the fair, and it was a lovely presentation once again. And full of inspiration!

Stand out collections and new finds are:

Raspberry Plum – Aleksandra never disappoints, but this must be my favourite collection so far. Amazing prints, cool accessories, vibrant colour combinations, and a bit of glam. I will show you more of S/S 2023 here very soon.

Artemis & Apollon – NEW brand from Greece with a quality, cotton clothing range sharing Greek mythology. Margarita, founder, started the brand during covid inspired by her childhood loves, Greek mythology and sketching.

Tiny Beans – NEW brand from Berlin, Germany. Designing supersoft organic bedlinen for babies and children with a mix and match system. You can select covers, pillow cases, and sheets in any design you love and any size you need. No more sets!

Paade Mode – Linda, another superwoman that always delivers. Beautiful dresses, superb prints, and just such a cool mix and match of fabrics, colours, and designs.

Looks by Luks – new discovery. They are famous for their turbans, but they also presented some very beautiful and cool pyjamas. I will write more about them here very soon!

“In the Fortezza, among the stands, there was great and widespread satisfaction. And many exhibitors were positively surprised by the international turnout and attendance. They saw some of the best buyers in the kids wear world, motivated and willing to bring customers back to their stores and department stores. And who greatly appreciated the selection of collections, launches and special projects in the Fortezza. More and more oriented to tell the world of kids wear in a wide dimension, from design objects and accessories, to books and vintage.”

 Pitti Bimbo 95  Pitti Bimbo 95  Pitti Bimbo 95

This time I want to share a few more ‘Coup de Cœurs’ with you. The ones I discovered outside the Fortezza da Basso. All with a vegan menu/offering, of course:

Shake Cafe – yummy shakes, smoothies, bowls, and more treats. They are all vegan and great ‘pick me ups’ after a day at the fair and high temperatures outside. They serve great breakfasts too, if you would like more than a croissant and a cappuccino. 4 locations around the city!

Santo Falafel – all-vegan, fast food restaurant specialising in falafel.  It also serves various flavours of hummus, fattoush salad, soups and other traditional Middle Eastern dishes. I had a huge salad with falafel and various dips on arrival day, and it made me very happy. If you love falafel like me or just want to change a bit from Italian food…

Gelateria Edoardo il gelato biologico – another fantastic location. Piazza del Duomo. Dark chocolate and fruit sorbet flavours are common vegan options. Edoardo, however, has creamy options for vegans and they are sooooo good. Wednesday was so hot, even the Italians were moaning, I had to treat myself to a cool break. The almond is killer, and the salted pistachio is absolutely fab. Everything is organic too!

Le Luna – the last evening was spent under the stars, together with colleagues, vino, and plates of delicious food, including a vegan menu for me that was out of this world. Surrounded by nature, a view of Florence, and a perfect ending to my journey.
Thank you and see you in January!

Images: AKAstudio-collective

10 family things to do in London when you ticked all the famous sights!

10 family things to do in London when you ticked all the famous sights!

Whether you have visited London a few times and want to see more than the usual tourist attractions, or you just like to travel on the ‘hidden path’, I have a few things today that are very London and fun for families. And the locals will be there too!

Personally, I always love to discover things hidden behind the usual stuff. See more of a city than the famous attractions and queues. And, especially with children, I find it more relaxing to explore the less crowded areas.

Therefore, today we will discover a different side of London. Take note and start working on this list over the upcoming week:

1. Barbican Conservatory: It is an estate and such a discovery. It is one of London’s principal examples of concrete brutalist architecture and is considered a landmark. And it is home to a glass-roofed, leafy sanctuary that features tropical plants and trees, bird life, and exotic fish. The tropics in the heart of London. Free entrance! The Barbican is also an arts centre and the largest of its kind in Europe. You can enjoy performances, exhibitions, movies, or visit one of the cool shops. Of course, you can find great places to eat and drink too. And you can live there. The residential complex consists of about 2,000 flats.

2. Mayfield Lavender Farm: 25 acres of Lavender fields that open to the public during their beautiful, purple summer months. Picturesque and Instagram perfect!

3. Simple and ‘oh so English’… A Sunday roast at the pub: A Sunday roast “with all the trimmings” at a friendly locals’ pub. Enjoy!

4. City farm: Take your kids to one of London’s city farms and visit sheep, goats, pigs and rabbits. Nobody really knows that the city has quite a lot of farms and you can surely find one in your borough too!

5. Stand on the Meridian Line: GMT= Greenwich Mean Time. Stand on the historic Meridian Line at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the home of Greenwich Mean Time. Extra: Its path is illuminated overhead at night! From the top of the hill in Greenwich Park towards the London Skyline.

barbican centre london
Barbican Centre

How did you enjoy the first five ideas? Already making plans?

6. Football match: The Gunners, the Blues, Spurs… there are quite a few big football clubs in the capital, and you surely have a fan in your family too! Try and get tickets or watch a game in a local pub or sports bar. Otherwise, you can also go on an official tour of one of the stadiums and take a peek behind the scenes. For tickets: If you are not local and not a member of a club, it is nearly (miracles happen sometimes) impossible to get hold of tickets. If you plan a visit, you can be lucky. Check as much as possible ahead of time!

7. Ride the Kennington Loop: Leave Kennington tube station on a tube train (do not leave the train at the ,ast stop!) and re-enter the same station a couple of minutes later. Kids love it!

8. Have a picnic on Primrose Hill: With that view it would be a shame to miss out on this one. Maybe the first thing of this list to tick? One you can do this week end with the beautiful weather ahead! You can even get your picnic from one of the local shops…

9. Museum lates: Did you know that you can visit the fabulous museums after hours? And avoid the crowds? Even have a drink, listen to talks or enjoy a film screening.

10. Visit a lido: Heated lidos, outdoor pools or natural ponds. Who says London is missing a beach? Here is a good list of places.

Tip: Go and see the popular attractions first thing in the morning or early evening, avoiding peak hours and crowds!

 

More Paul & Paula travel:

Have a great week everyone!

Children’s art as unique handmade rugs

Children's art as unique handmade rugs

Nayla Ventura was born in Barcelona and grew up in a beautiful large flat with these gorgeous and famous floors in modernist tiles. One can say she had a rather stylish start into her life. Maybe the first inspiration for her lovely business called Rug Your Life!

Nayla then enjoyed most of her adult life in Germany, where her daughter was born.And moved on to Hong Kong, where her son was born, and moved back to Germany again. A true world woman with a multinational family alongside her.
Today, Nayla’s heart beats for all three of her ‘home countries’. She says: ‘I love how we can belong to completely different places, just by deciding to. Feeling home is very important for me and it has to do much more with myself and the people and things I choose to surround myself with than with the country itself.’

Today I am talking with Nayla about her business, children’s art as unique handmade rugs, and how it started. Her dreams and how a rug can be pure joie de vivre. Enjoy:

Children's art as unique handmade rugs

What is the story behind Rug Your Life and when did you start the company?

It was back in January 2010, when I was expecting my baby daughter. Like all parents, I absolutely wanted for her to have the most warm welcome into this world. My vision was for her to have a beautiful soft rug, handmade in the best materials, from a drawing that her own father had painted as a little boy. The painting was overflowing with imagination and joy and that was exactly what I wanted her room to feel like.

When the rug arrived, it was just incredible. The feeling is very hard to describe and it is something everyone should be able to experience. Seeing such a personal image transformed into a wonderful rug, by hand, with so much love put into it. It brought an unbelievable magic into the room.

Right then and there, all I wanted was for every parent to know how they could create the most unique and special rugs for their children’s rooms.

So Rug Your Life started, as Carpetzz first, with the purpose to fill the world with magic bespoke rugs! At the beginning the focus was on weaving children’s art as rugs, but it quickly and naturally evolved to include contemporary artists, interior designers and then museum art as rugs.

What is the best thing about your job?

The very best in my job is to listen and read the personal stories our customers tell us about the images they send. And then their reaction when they get the rugs. After more than twelve years, this keeps on being just as wonderful as the first time. It is everything. I feel such a connection with what I do and I feel very very grateful that my work impacts people’s lives at home and in such a meaningful way.

Children's art as unique handmade rugs


How does a ‘normal’ working day look like for you?

I always start my days setting my intention and mentally preparing for the best day. Then I usually check on the current inquiries and orders, how the deliveries are going, and which production stage we are in for each order. Next, I often speak to artists with whom we are discussing co-operations. For example: we weave their artworks as bespoke or custom rugs, and we advance on the choice of paintings, the sizes and techniques for the rugs and the colours for the yarns. Further, I also speak almost daily to some of the interior designers we work with to discuss home projects we are working on together. For them we are designing and making rugs.

There is usually a lot of variety in my daily work and it always moves around rug designs, stories, colours and wonderful creative conversations. Of course, there is also quite a bit of calculations and financial activities involved. Altogether, I like to have a clear structure for my week and my day and move within this frame intuitively.


How do I get one of your cool rugs?

If you want to have your bespoke handmade rug from your own design or from one or several images you love, all you have to do is visit our website and send us an inquiry. You can choose the rug size and shape that suits your space best, as well as the colours. Maybe you want to have the rug in the same colours as the picture(s) you send or maybe you want to use different ones that match your decor best. We can combine several patterns and images in one rug layout too. The only thing you have to do is… to want it!

How long does it take to make my bespoke rug and will I be able to see a draft of the end result before it goes into production?

It depends, and yes!

If you send us one image that you want to have as your bespoke rug, then we will draw the weaving graph and choose the yarn colours that are closest to your design. If you send us several images, we will first prepare some layouts and discuss the possibilities with you. Once the design is clear and confirmed and we have done all the preparation work, we will mix the pigments and dye the yarn just for your rug.

And then of course weave each single knot (as a pixel) from your design. Between half a million and one million knots are woven by hand for each rug!

There are many other steps before, between and after, each rug is ready. And in average, it takes 10 to 12 weeks (and many many hours of dedication) for your bespoke rug to be in your home.

You absolutely see a draft of the rug beforehand. You actually see the rug being made! We love sending you photos of your rug being woven and of different steps of the process.

Children's art as unique handmade rugs

Where do you see Rug Your Life in the future? What is your dream?

I LOVE this question, thank you! I see such a bright future for Rug Your Life. My dream is to be the #1 place that people go to when they want truly unique, fine, high-quality, handmade rugs with their favourite images, their children’s artwork or museum masterpieces.

My dream is for people to appreciate their time at home so much that they honour it with meaningful love-filled rugs. I see thousands and thousands of people spending their best time with their family and friends, on and around rugs that always remind them of how important they truly are.

How are the rugs made and where are your manufacturers based?

For children rugs we love using premium New Zealand wool. It is the highest-quality, softest, most delightful to touch material. The rugs are as easy to clean and maintain as it gets. Moreover, it is also anti-allergenic and temperature and sound insulating. New Zealand wool is truly ideal.

I love working directly with the people who make the rugs, in India and in Nepal. This ensures that we always know what is going on. It is very important for our customers and for us to have complete peace of mind that everything is made with respect for the people and also for the environment.

Our customers value personal interiors and unique rugs and are very appreciative that only the necessary resources are used. They love that we are respecting the people who made the rugs and the natural resources. And that we are not participating in mass production stocks that may likely become waste when not sold quickly.
Each and every one of our rugs is meant for the home it is going to. So the design, the colours, the size is unique. Therefore, all steps can only be made once the rug is ordered, as we cannot know in advance which colours will be needed and in which amount. Also, we create very high-quality, finely woven rugs. These are extremely good rugs and some of the designs have many colours and small details. It requires a long and expert dedication to weave each knot. This does result in longer delivery times than one might wish… but it is always, always worth the wait!

Children's art as unique handmade rugs

Children's art as unique handmade rugs


Should I ‘invest’ in a bespoke handmade rug for the kids room?

Some things are not easy to put a value in numbers to. Indeed, our rugs are not cheap. But how could they be? There is so much dedication and work invested in bringing them to life. Each rug is a big celebration of your child’s creativity as a handcrafted masterpiece! Your child grows up with a rug from their own art. And with the wonderful sense of ownership and confidence that what they like and who they are, deserves to be honoured in such a way. This feeling is absolutely priceless. Sometimes it’s just not about the money, it’s about the pure joy!

How do I keep the rug clean and nice?

One of the reasons we use New Zealand wool is that it is one of the easiest-to-maintain materials! As with all rugs, the best way to keep them clean is vacuuming them regularly. And wiping the spills as soon as possible. Use a solution of 1l of warm water, one teaspoon wool detergent and one teaspon white vinegar, softly blotting or dabbing the stain. We also recommend having them professionally cleaned every couple of years.

Finally, what do you love to do when you are not working?

I love to be in the mountains or near gorgeous rivers and lakes with my family, visiting art museums in Munich and reading and learning about fascinating subjects. And I also love to just do absolutely, blissfully nothing!

Thank you Nayla! I am looking forward to seeing your dreams become reality!

.:: Rug Your Life ::.

Design by We Blog You + Developed for Wordpress by Brandi Bernoskie